Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple in Madurai

Subject: Arts and culture

Context:

Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple may have been reconstructed during early 13th century according to the inscriptions found at the temple, said archaeological expert

Concept:

• The present structure of MeenakshiSundareswarar Temple in Madurai might have been reconstructed during the rule of JatavarmanKulasekara Pandya (1190-1216 common era).
• This structure was damaged due to unknown reasons and was again renovated in the 13th century during the period of MaravarmanSundarapandyan II
• Temple might have been a simple structure, prior to the reconstruction during the JatavarmanKulasekara Pandya period. The temple has been renovated many times and extended with mandapams and halls during the Nayak rule.
• Another important finding is that in all the 13th century inscriptions belonging to Pandya period, the name of the presiding god is mentioned as ‘ThiruAlavayUdaiyaNayanar’ and goddess was mentioned as ‘ThirukkamakkottamUdaiyaAludaiyaNacchiyar’.
• It was during the Nayak period when the name ‘Chokkanatha’ for the presiding god was mentioned for the first time. The name of the goddess as ‘Meenakshi’ was mentioned on the engravings of a ‘pavaivilaku’ dated to 1752 CE.
• The present name of the goddess- ‘MeenakshiSundareswarar’ was first mentioned on the engravings on a Tiruvachi lamp stand dated to 1898 CE